//------------------------------// // Part 3 // Story: In the Shadows // by JLBDreamer //------------------------------// Part 3 Rainbow Dash impatiently hovered in the road.  The growing darkness made her more nervous for Fluttershy than she wanted to admit.  “Hurry up!  We waited too long! It’s almost completely dark already!”   “Ah know, but it took that long to make up our minds who was comin’ tonight.”  Applejack picked up her pace to a trot.  “We don’t want to show up like we’re expectin’ the worst though.”   “Yeah, but I’m not leaving until I’m satisfied Fluttershy is taking this seriously.”   “I’m with ya on that, Rainbow.  Ah’ll camp out at Fluttershy’s if Ah have to.”   When they crested the hill, and Fluttershy’s cottage was in full view, the setting sun had already begun to paint the sky in red and pink hues.  It was sinking  below the horizon.  As they got closer,   they could see debris of some kind in the front yard.  However, it wasn’t until they reached it they realized that the debris was from the destroyed chicken coop. The two mares stared in shock at the sight of the mangled, and lifeless chickens.  Before they could react, a small pony burst from the house wailing.   “Is that-“   “Charcoal!”  Rainbow darted forward attempting to intercept him by landing in his path.  He barreled past her, and as she spun around she just saw him plunging into the Everfree Forest.   “Applejack-“ she turned to see her friend already halfway to the front door of Fluttershy’s house.  “Oh, buck it!”  Rainbow Dash galloped a few steps, and lifted into the air blasting through the bottommost branches in pursuit of Charcoal. *** Applejack slid in through the front door and took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the light-flooded space.  Animals were everywhere, either frozen in panic or frantically rushing at her, chattering and squawking.   “Fluttershy!”   She nearly fell-over when Discord suddenly flashed into existence in front of her with an unconscious Fluttershy in his arms. “Before you say anything-“   “Celestia!  Is she alright?”   “She’s breathing, as for as anything beyond that, I have no way of knowing.  I was about to take her to the hospital but then I heard your bellowing.”   “Did that foal have anything to do with this?”   “It was some kind of shadowy-pony-thing but it ducked into the room with Junior before disappearing.  Somehow, I think you know more about what’s happening than I do.”   “You didn’t know about the foal?”   “The last letter said nothing about a foal.  I never expected to find a shadow trying to murder my best friend when I arrived.”   “Fluttershy found that foal in Canterlot.  He had some curse on his shadow so she thought Twilight could help. She decided to bring him home in the mean time.  We were comin’ to check on them.”   “We?”   “Yes, Rainbow Dash and Ah.  Ah think she went after Charcoal, that’s the colt’s name.”   Dragonfire manifested in midair and a scroll fell to the floor.   “Twilight!  She must’ve found somethin’!”  Applejack raced over, scooped up and feverishly began reading the scroll.   Discord scanned Fluttershy’s face for any movement.  “I think I should get her help.”   “Wait!  Once ya get her settled we’re gonna need yer help.  Yer the only one who can get word to Twilight about what’s happened, and then we just might need ya to help us take King Sombra down.”   “I’ll send that message but I don’t see why I should lift a claw beyond that.”   “It seems we’re dealing with a fella that we needed alicorn magic to beat last time.”   “I’ll bring you Twilight.  You’ll have an alicorn then.  Problem solved.”   Applejack suppressed a growl.  “Sombra hurt Fluttershy, and he could enslave Equestria if we let him get back to full strength, aren’t those good enough reasons for ya to help?”   It was then Fluttershy began to cough.   “Fluttershy!”  Discord’s visage softened as he moved the pony’s hair from her face.   “Are ya okay?”   The pegasus’s eyes fluttered open.  “Are you going after Charcoal?” she whispered hoarsely.   “Don’t worry about that, Sugar Cube.  Ya need rest and we’re gonna handle this.”   “I need to be there.  He’ll be scared.  He might be angry. King Sombra can use the fear and hate against Charcoal and us.  Charcoal trusts me.”   “You are in no condition to go traipsing about the Everfree Forest in the dark,” Discord chided her.  “I will check in with everypony and keep you posted.  You are going to the hospital.”   “Yer comin’ back ain’t ya?”   “Once I contact Twilight Sparkle, yes.  Ta, ta Ms. Honesty!”   When the Draconequus vanished Applejack was left standing in the room with a rabbit looking up at her.  Angel held his head, the fur marred by blood, and his eyes filled with worry.   “Angel can ya help take care of these critters?  I should go help track down that foal.”   The bunny nodded at her, so tipping her hat, Applejack started out the door. *** Twilight, Celestia and Luna stood in the audience chamber, though it was after hours for Canterlot business, the three alicorns had much to discuss after Twilight’s trip to the Crystal Empire.   “So you don’t know how to contain Sombra’s magic?”   “I’m sorry Twilight, but what I showed you years ago is the only thing I know about using Shadow Magic.  Its strength comes from darkness, hate and fear.  Its weaknesses are light and love.  I never delved into the darker side of magic very deeply, besides knowing what was necessary to fight it, and destroy it. Containing it is another matter entirely.”  Celestia sighed.    “Dark Magic and Shadow Magic are mysterious in many ways, even to those that use them.  Only those with a strong will can master them.  Charcoal Shadow must be strong enough of mind to combat Sombra’s control, if any containment or expulsion were to work.” Luna bowed her head in thought.   “He’s just a foal though, and he’s lived with King Sombra in his mind for his whole life.  I want to think that its possible to save him, but if we can’t contain or stop King Sombra…” Twilight said crestfallen.  “Spike is scouring the library in the Crystal Kingdom trying to find anything on Shadow Magic that he can.  I just hope we can discover something before its too late.”   It was then a sparking light signaled a teleportation into the room.   “Element of Kindness my hoof, you’re the element of manipulation if you ask me,” Discord addressed the pony he held in his arms.   The alicorns gasped seeing pained expression on Fluttershy’s face, and how limply her body hung in the Draconequus’ gentle grasp.   “I-I have to try.  I promised…” her hoarse voice trailed off into a cough.   “Let me do most of the talking at least.”  Discord turned his eyes to the princesses.  “If you ladies haven’t guessed the shadow attacked Fluttershy and the brat raced off into the Everfree.  Rainbow Dash and Applejack are in pursuit of him.  They instructed me to get word to you and get help for Fluttershy.  However, she insisted on having a word with Princess Luna.”   “Princess, remember how Charcoal reacted when you talked about entering his dreams?  I think it’s our best chance.  I need to convince Charcoal he’s not alone or Sombra will use his fears to come back.”  Fluttershy’s chest rose and fell with effort when she turned her pleading teal eyes to the Moon Princess.   Luna’s shone with realization and she gave the pegasus a reassuring smile.   “There is a way to contain an entity’s consciousness within a dream.  We will do everything in our power to save this foal.”   The corners of Fluttershy’s mouth crept up in the only gesture of thanks the pony could manage at that moment.   “Take a squadron of the Night Guard with you, Luna.  Twilight, gather the other Element Bearers.”  Celestia nodded to them each in turn.  “Discord you can get them there far quicker than anypony else. We could use your help.”   “Rest assured Celestia, if I didn’t help, Fluttershy would never forgive me, so I’ll do what’s needed.” *** Rainbow Dash frowned as each beat of her wings brought her higher into the moonlit heavens.  The night was clear and still.  The clearing below her was inky and nearly impossible to pierce with her diurnally adapted eyes.   “See anythin’?”  Applejack’s voice wafted up to her companion from the forest below.   The pegasus bit her lip in concentration deepening her peering gaze.  “No!  He can’t have gotten far though.  What about you?”   “Nah, no signs of anythin’ passin’ through down here.  He must’ve gone the other way.”   “Got it!  I’ll scout ahead.  Be careful down there.   Nasty stuff should be starting to prowl around by now.”  Rainbow Dash rocketed off into the west.   Applejack sighed.  “Yeah, which is why we need to find that colt as fast as we can.  Its far too quiet for the Everfree.”  The earth pony trotted through the clearing, leapt over a root and dove into the thickening darkness. *** Charcoal’s small legs finally gave out from under him.  He rested his tear-streaked cheek on the cold earth.  You’re tired already?  You’re pathetic.   “I want to go farther.  I want to get far away so you can’t hurt them.”   A pair of green eyes, that up until that moment Charcoal had only seen in his dreams manifested in the gloom.  Then give yourself over to me.  I can use my magic to let us get far away.  You know its inevitable, Slave.  Eventually, there will be nothing left of your pathetic mind, so why do you keep fighting me?    Charcoal Shadow’s mind travelled back over the last few days.  He’d hoped that finally he had found somepony that could release him from his burden.  His chest tightened thinking of Fluttershy’s broken body.  It was all his fault for trying to defy his Master.   “Will I know what’s happening? Will I know what you’re doing if I let you take control?”  He had finally come to realize that no matter what he did he would never be free.  Other ponies would be hurt no matter what he did and it was too painful to watch.   You’ll always feel what I feel, Slave, but you won’t have to watch.     He was tired, so tired.  He wished he could die but his Master wouldn’t let him.  If he was doomed to this fate, why not make it easier to bear?  “I don’t want to watch anymore.”   Charcoal closed his eyes as dark laughter filled the still air. *** Rainbow Dash’s wing tips brushed the top of the canopy as she flew.  Just when she had given up, her keen eyes spied a small form laying motionless in the darkness below.  Diving down she alighted at the edge of the clearing and could just make out the slate coated foal prone among the litter of leaves.   “Kid?”  The pegasus haltingly crept forward toward the young unicorn. He didn’t stir. “Charcoal?” Rainbow reached the colt and lifted her foreleg ready to tap him.   Her peripheral vision alerted her to movement from behind, just as the foal opened his eyes revealing them to be a featureless, ghastly green.  Rainbow Dash rocketed up as the darkness leapt up grasping at her legs.  She veered to the right as it swiped, and dodged again, until her zigzagging path took her past the clearing.   She flew off toward the direction she had left Applejack.  The canopy exploded in a flurry of foliage as an inky, smoke-like column grabbed for her, once again. She burst ahead of the smoky tentacles in alarm as they missed her by a fraction.  Her desperate struggle took her high into the sky until she succeeded in avoiding the shadowy assault.   An elegant figure met her on high causing Rainbow Dash to cry out in relief. “Princess Luna!  How did you get here?”   “Never mind that.  Where is the foal?”   The Princess was joined by a group of bat-pony guards midair.   “He’s down there.  I found him in that clearing but something freaky else is in control of him and all of the shadows.”  Rainbow gestured toward the clearing.   “It’s King Sombra.”   “You’re joking!”   “We do not joke.”  Luna turned her attention to the ponies in her command.  “We must land in that clearing, so surround it.  Be careful.” *** Twilight glanced around the clearing at the determined expressions held by her friends.  Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack were less confident than she’d seen on their other adventures.  She couldn’t blame them, because this time someone they cared about had already been hurt.  Also, this time an innocent stood the chance of being harmed.   “We have no idea what we are walking into, except that is will be dangerous.  We have no idea just how powerful Sombra is in his current condition.  We only know he can’t exist without that foal. If we stick to our plan we will be able to save Charcoal and contain Sombra.”   Twilight took this moment to meet the tired eyes of the friend she was most concerned for, Fluttershy.  The pony was still in Discord’s protective grasp; weak from the attack she had suffered earlier.  She was taking a greater risk than any of the others for the sake of the foal because she wasn’t sure if the pegasus could survive another attack, and it was up to all of them that it didn’t happen.   “Let’s move out quietly!”   “Got it Hime-sama!” Discord said clothing the party in black ninja attire with a snap of his claws. *** Luna landed in the clearing, her horn ablaze with cool blue fire, her eyes alight with power and her royal canterlot voice booming. “Sombra, thee dare defile Our night with thy base designs?”   The foal stood, his feet planted apart, and his eyes enchanted with green magic.  The billowing cloud that loomed behind him coalesced into a more familiar form.  The stallion’s shadow stood directly above the colt, his green-and-red eyes narrowed as the smoky wisps emanating from them grew from black to purple.   “Luna,” the tyrant spoke through his slave. “I had hoped to regain full power before our inevitable confrontation.  Unlike the last time we met, your sister is not joining us?  A pity, it would’ve been so much more satisfying to squash two pests with one blow.”  The foal grinned chillingly. “You weren’t foolish enough to come alone however, my dear Princess.”   The shadowy stems emerging from his feet extended into the darkness surrounding them, thickening their ebony depths. The princess felt a chill go up her spine.  The alarmed cries of her guards nearly made her drop her composure, though she was still able to cast a protective spell of light around herself, just in time for Rainbow Dash to tumble into her protective aura. *** Twilight and company skidded to a halt as the blackness formed an impartible wall in front of them.   “How in tarnation are we goin’ to get there now?”   “Twilight, I can get us close without any problem.”  Discord snapped open a small, glowing rip in the air.   “Good idea.  Remember everypony our success depends on us taking the pressure off Luna as soon as we get there.  It’s up to us to keep King Sombra busy,”  Twilight instructed.   They all nodded gravely in reply before entering the glowing fissure.   *** Luna and Rainbow Dash defiantly met the glare of the puppet and puppet-master before them.   “I may not be at full strength but this wood is full of nothing but shadows and magic.  Tell me how long do you think you can last?” The shadows menacingly pressed in against the shield.   Suddenly, Twilight and her party poured from the fissure taking their places at Luna’s side while the alicorn added her magic to Luna’s.  The shield flared with added strength and doubled in size of the protective barrier.   “It seems to me you are out numbered King Sombra.”  Twilight said with a grin.   “You have your army but I have mine,” Sombra laughed wickedly.   The bat pony guards emerged from the shadows encircling the group, their eyes alit with green flames.   “Twilight, thou must keep him occupied without,” Luna said, dropping her magic while nodding to Fluttershy, “we will attack within.”   Twilight and the five ponies shared a grim moment of resolve meeting each other’s eyes.   “I have to drop the field.  Discord, keep them safe.”           After setting his friend on the ground the draconequus saluted.  “How about I also even the playing field a bit?”  He gave them a toothy smile and with a snap the sun rose high in the sky.  “I don’t think Celestia will mind this once.”   Luna stood next to Fluttershy. “My power in the dream world weakens without the moon.”   “Relax,” he said as a moment later the moon rose once again, “I think you can keep your strength up with little shots of strength Princess Luna.”   “Okay everyone,” Twilight said accepting Discord’s unusual logic, for once, without argument.  “Good luck.”   Luna’s eyes glowed and her magic encircled she and Fluttershy while, in the same instant, Twilight lowered her shield.  The Princess and the wounded pegasus floated outside of the clearing and sunk into a dreamy stupor.  Landing feather-light just outside the battlefield their trances left them defenseless, yet their role was the most important of all in the battle against Sombra.   Sombra hissed as the sun rose into the sky, once again revealing the shadowy trails attached to each of his puppet soldiers.   “Attack,” he commanded through the foal as the six soldiers rushed the group.   *** Luna and Fluttershy stood in an impenetrable, featureless darkness pressing in upon them.   “Is this Charcoal’s dream?  Its so empty.” Fluttershy’s voice seemed to echo in the void.   “His mind is empty because he’s given it over to Sombra.” A whimpering could be heard echoing in the blackness, as Luna lit the way with her horn.   “I see him!”  Fluttershy exclaimed closing the remaining distance in a sprint. Charcoal was curled into a ball, his eyes full of pain and tears. “Charcoal!  Its okay.  I’m here.”   The colt turned his eyes to her.  “I can feel it.  I know what he’s doing.”   “Thou can stop it, my little pony.”  Luna knelt down next to the colt lifting his muzzle and meeting his eyes.  “This is thy domain, thy dreams, thy mind, and Sombra cannot control thee unless thee lets him.”   The foal turned away. “I can’t.  I’m weak-“   “Stop it!”  Fluttershy shouted grabbing the sides of his face making him look into her eyes.  “You are brave and strong.  Why do you think he can’t do very much to hurt anypony when you’re awake?  Its because you have a strong will.  You can’t give up now.”   “What can I do?”   “Reveal him.  He’s hiding in the dark.  We can stop him if thou believes its possible, but thou must make a sacrifice.”   “A sacrifice?” the colt’s eyes widened, his forehead wrinkled as he regarded the moon princess’s serious air.   “Sombra’s energy is tied to thine.  If it were severed thou might not survive.  I can seal him here, in thy mind, but we can only maintain it if thou are in slumber.”   “You mean I can’t wake up ever again?”   “It would just be until we find a way to rid you of Sombra for good, and I will visit you.” Fluttershy comforted.   “Fluttershy is right.  Thy dreams can seem real and can be whatever thou wants them to be.  We shall make you happy and comfortable and shall bring others to visit just as we have brought her here now.”   “No one would get hurt?”   “I swear upon Our name, and upon the moon which we control, no one shall be harmed by King Sombra upon our watch.”   Charcoal glanced between the mares.  His chest heavy, he nodded as his face fell.   “You are so brave,” Fluttershy whispered enveloping the colt in an embrace, “and I will never abandon you.  I’ll be here in your dreams.”   Charcoal returned her embrace as a single tear ran down his cheek glowing softly.  The liquid grief struck the ground and the entire expanse flared to life.   In the distance a figure stood with its back to them.  A dark grey stallion, with a steel crown, clothed in armor and a crimson robe could be seen.  A fiery barrier stood between him and the group.   “Charcoal, I can only break through that barrier if thou believes I can.”   The colt disentangled himself from the pegasus’ legs. He looked into Fluttershy’s eyes seeing her hope, her affection, and her belief in his strength reflected therein.   “I know we can, because I’m not alone anymore.  I have family.”  He sniffed his tears up bravely turning away so as not to see Fluttershy’s fresh tears.   “Come,” Luna said helping Fluttershy and Charcoal to their feet.   ***   Twilight blasted two war implements from their deadly arcs.   “Thanks!”  Pinkie ducked avoiding a sword.   Rarity sighed flinching as she kicked an unarmed guard’s feet out from under him.  “Do we have to injure them?  They are under a spell, after all.”   The alicorn furtively glanced over at where Discord was balanced on his tail deceptively just observing the fight, his arms crossed while fidgeting with his beard. In truth, he stood guard over their secret weapons whom were hiding just out of sight.   “We need to give them more time.”   Unfortunately, her glance didn’t go unnoticed and the apparition locked onto the draconequus’ position, the foal’s small head moving in concert.   Discord felt the glare and shrugged, snapping his claws materializing a cannon in front of the pink earth pony.   “Oooo!”  Pinkie exclaimed firing the cannon.  It launched a large, sticky net and party streamers at the enchanted guards. The net pinned them down as the ponies cheered.   The apparition flattened to the ground, and as the moon rose once again, it boiled up through the net towards where Discord stood guard.   ***   “Foul wretch, thou are not the one in control anymore!”  Luna stomped her hoof.   Sombra wheeled around and with a grin sent a red energy blast in her direction. Before she could reach him a wall of shadow crystal erupted upwards halting her progress.   Fluttershy linked her foreleg with the foal’s.  “Remember, he can’t do anything in here if you don’t let him.  This is your dream.”   The foal concentrated his horn glowing a soft azure aura and the wall shattered.   Luna charged forward and locked horns with the tyrant.  Shards of the jagged, broken crystal rose into the air, locked onto the alicorn and then launched toward her.   “No!” Charcoal cried.   A bright flash manifested itself in front of the shards and they melted away.   “Lend Us your strength, young one!”   Charcoal closed his eyes and poured every last ounce of hope into his belief in the moon princess’ power.   “Foul fiend of shadow and hate,” the alicorn declared in her Canterlot voice, “thy tyranny shall end this day! Sleep until it is at last destroyed!”   A chain of light winked into existence and spiraled down around King Sombra’s body.  He howled in pain and rage as it froze him into a stalagmite of clear crystal.   *** Just as suddenly as the shade leapt up around Discord, to power toward the two entranced ponies, it froze and disappeared.   Charcoal’s body slumped and fell limply to the ground.   Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity all exchanged glances still primed for action.   Discord laughed, rubbing his mismatched hands together, and spun around to face where Luna and Fluttershy still lay.  “They did it!”  He snapped his claws halting the moon from diving down past the horizon and allowing it to rise to its proper position.   Luna was the first to awaken, her eyes reverted to normal, and she shook out the remaining grogginess of the spell.   Twilight sighed in relief while her friends cheered.  Their joy was short-lived as Fluttershy awoke, her lashes already soaked in tears before they opened.  She gasped, jumping to her feet and flew over to the foal in the middle of the clearing.   “I’m sorry,” she told him while she caressed his cheek.   “He is at rest and happy, Fluttershy.” Luna approached laying a comforting hoof on the pegasus’ shoulder.  “His dreams will be happy, and he will have everything he could ever desire.  We swear this to you.”   “He may never wake up. He may never get to live the life he deserves, if we can’t find a way to free him from King Sombra.”   “Spike is already searching, and I promise I won’t rest until I discover a way to expel King Sombra from Charcoal for good.”  Twilight sat on the other side of Fluttershy and placed her hoof on the pony’s other shoulder.   Fluttershy didn’t answer either princess, but only cradled the foal’s head on her lap sobbing inconsolably, while the others looked on not knowing what to say. *** “Good morning, Nurse Redheart!” Fluttershy greeted brightly, flying in clutching fresh cuttings from her garden. “Hello, Miss Fluttershy.  You never miss a day do you?” “Of course not,  I need to change the flowers.  Besides, he’s my responsibility to care for, after all.” Fluttershy fluttered to the floor as she entered the still darkened room.  Making her way to the window she opened the curtains and turned around to face the foal lying in the bed. “Good morning Charcoal!” She smiled at him briefly before going over to change the flowers in the vase at his bedside.  “Its a lovely day, today.  It would be a lovely day for a picnic.  We’ll have to go on one when you can wake up.” She pulled up the chair and gently wiped his muzzle with a wash cloth careful not to disturb the oxygen tubes.  Fluttershy couldn’t help but notice how small he looked in bed.  Charcoal’s condition was displayed on the monitor on the other side of the bed, but she had Princess Luna’s word that he was okay and that was far more comforting.  Luna checked on his dreams every night and made sure the seal on Sombra was secure. “Princess Luna says that she’ll let me come visit you soon.  She told me you stay in a copy of my house there and you’ve even dreamed of me being there.”  The words caught in her throat and she wiped away a few tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. “It will be really wonderful to talk to you again. You see, I’ve missed you too.  Its only been a month but it seems like forever. “Twilight said to say hello to you for her, too.  She and Spike are working very hard to find anything they can on Shadow Magic.  She said they have some promising leads on where to go. There were cloisters of Shadow Mages thousands of years ago, and she found information about one group having a lair.  She’s trying to figure out its exact location, but its exciting.” She reached out and smoothed his bangs away from his eyes.  “You see no one has given up on you.  We’ll never give up until you can be free.”